g-oldmann



P. GOLDMANN;

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Nb Model.)

H FIRE ESCAPE. N0. 421,269.

Patented Feb. 11, 1890;

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Arm/My (No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. GOLDMANN. FIRE ESCAPE.

N0. 421,269. Patented Feb. 1 1, 1890 fry-' 17 ATTORNEY N. PEIERS.PMlo-Lilhugmphnr. Washlngmm D. c.-'

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. P. GOLDMANN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 421,269. Patented Feb. 11,1890.

WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

PHILIPP GOLDMANN, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,269, datedFebruary 11, 18 90.

Application filed May 16, 1889- Serial No. 311,002- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP? GOLDMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a device serviceable as a fire-escape or forascending or descending along any object; and the invention consists inthe details of construction set forth in the following specification andclaims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a front elevation, partly in section, of a fire-escape. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section along a: a, Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a side elevation of Fig. 1 from the opposite side from that exposedin Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view'similar to Fig. l, showing parts in adifferent position than in Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2,showing parts in a different position than in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detailview of a spring connection between the seat and brake. Fig. 8 ma sideelevation of a modification. Fig.

9 is a side View of a brake-lever and adjacent parts. Fig. 10 is a frontview of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a section along 3 y, Fig. 10.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates a frame having a support or seatB, on which one or more persons can rest. Onto the axle O is woundacable composed of a rope, chain, or band D, which can be secured at itsfree end to a suitable support, such as the edge of a roof. To the axleG is fixed a ratchetwheel Gr, and when the pawl S is in the positionshown in Fig. 4 said pawl engages the ratchet-wheel G and prevents thecable unwinding froin the axle. A spring T presses the pawl intoengagement with the ratchetwheel.

When the lever E is swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 to theposition shown in Fig. 5, the shoulder F of said lever moves the slideB, so as to move the pawl S out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel G,thus leaving the axle C free to turn in the direction of arrow 4, Fig.2, so that the cable D canunwind. The'slide R is shown secured to theframe by a pin-and-slot connection. The fulcrum H of lever E, Fig. 1, isshown as formed in one piece with said lever, so as to turn therewith,and said fulcrum H extends across the frame A.

To prevent the cable unwinding too fast, a brake is provided for saidcable. The brake-wheel WV is fixed to the axle C and a brake-band Vengages said wheel. The

ends of the brake-band V are secured to a lever M, fulcrumed at O. Thesupport Bis jointed to the frame at P, and when a person rests on thesupport said support is swung in the direction of arrow2, Fig. 2. Assaid support B is suitably connected to the lever M,

the motion of the support in the direction of arrow 2 will swing thelever M in the direction of arrow 3, so as to tighten the brakeband Vabout the wheel W. The support B communicates motion to the lever M bymeans of a suitable spring or springs supported by the rod Q. Said rodis jointed to the support B at a and slides in a suitable eye I), Fig.1, on the lever M. Two springs R U are shown supported by the rod Q. Thespring R has a washer Y, which sits against an arm Z, fixed to the frameA, so that the spring R always tightens the brakeband V to some extent.The arm Z has an eye or hole large enough for the spring U to B, so asto increase the pressure of saidv spring R upon the lever M, therebyincreasing the brake-pressure of the band V. One spring R, as seen'inFig. 8, might be put in place of the springs R 'U and the arm Zdispensed with but by having two springs arranged as described thespring R can be made to continually exert a pressure upon the brake-bandV, so as to prevent too rapid unwinding of the cable.

The lever M has an arm 0, Fig. 1, engaging the arm (Z of the brake-lever(Z e. \Vhen the lever M is swung in the direction of arrow 3, the arm 6is pressed against the cable D, so as to act as a brake upon said cable.The brakelever d e is fulcrumed on the fulcrum H of lever E, and saidlever (Z c has a spring f, so

that it can exert a yielding action. The brake d 6 can be used inconnection with the brake V, or either of said brakes can be used byitself.

The fulcrum II of lever E has a lug g, Figs. 1 and 3, striking against astud h on the rod 1'. The rod 11 is jointed at a to the support B,

and the free end of the rod 2' is supported by r the oscillatory link7c. Then the lever E is moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 to theposition shown in Fig. 5, the lug g presses the rod 2' and support B inthe direction 0pposed to arrow 2, thus easing the action of the brakeand allowing the cable to unwind freely. Instead of having the stud h onthe rod 2', said stud It can be fixed to the rod Q, as seen in Fig. 8,and the rod 1' and link 7t dispensed with.

On the axle O swings the lever I, a slot X allowing the lever I to swingfreely about the axle C, and also to have a certain longitudinalmovement on the axle. The longitudinal movability of the lever I allowsthe pawl L on said lever to be brought into or out of gear with theratchet-wheel G. By bringing the pawl L into gear with the wheel G andswinging the lever I in the direction of arrow 1, Fig. at, the axle O isturned so as to wind up the cable. A spring Z holds the pawl L inposition to engage the wheel G when the lever I is moved longitudinallyin the proper direction. A handle m is secured to the lever I by aspring-hinge or jack-knife hinge, and when the handle on is opened, Fig.4, it can be used to increase the leverage of lever I. WVhen not in use,the handle m can be folded out of the way, Fig. 5.

To assist the leverI in winding up the cable, the axle O can be providedwith cranks n, having links or cords 0, provided with stirrups pwit-11in reach of a person on the support B, said cranks being connectedto the axle either directly or by means of gears. (Not shown.) Saidlever I and cranks n can be used to wind up the cable and raise theframe A while a person rests on the support B.

If the brake V should at any time not be under sufficient -tension-as,for example, when an extremely heavy weight is supported by thedevice-the lever r s, fulcrumed at g on a part of the frame A, can beused to tighten the brake, since by moving the ,arm

s of lever r s in the direction of arrow 5 the lever r s actuates thelever M to tighten the brake V. By releasing the lever r s the brake Vis slackened. In case more persons are to be accommodated than can findroom on the support B a supplemental support can be hooked or attachedto the lever in, Fig. 8, fulcrumed at H and connected by a link to tothe support B. When the lever t a is weighted, as by a person hangingtherefrom, the lower part of said lever 15 a is swung toward the supportB, thus causing the link w to draw said support Bin the direction ofarrow 2, and the support B by the rod Q and spring R moves the lever Mand tightens the brake V in the same manner as hereinbefore describedwith reference to the action of the rod and spring. A stop 00, Fig. 8,can be secured to frame A to prevent excessive retrograde motion of thesupport B.

When the axle O is being turned to wind up the cable, the brakeV shouldbe loosened, so as to allow easy turning of the axle. For this purposethe brake-lever M has a fork a b, Figs. 9 and 11, and the lever E has2]. lug o. By turning the lever E away from the support B a sufficientdistance the lug 0' will come to rest against the branch I) of fork a1), thus turning the lever M about its fulcrum, so as to loosen thebrake-band V.

To prevent excessiveloosening of the brakeband V during the unwinding ofthe cable by the lever E being turned too far toward the support B, thelug con the fulcrum H of said lever E is provided. "When the lever E isturned too far toward the support B, the lug c strikes against thebranch a and moves the lever M, so as to tighten the brake.

WVith regard to the lever 'r-s, it is to be noted that the arm r of saidlever can be made to extend either downward, as seen. in Fig.8, orupward, as seen in Fig. 9. In place of having only one arm 0' strikingagainst the lever M, the lever r 5 may have two arms r r, Fig. 9,striking against lever M, so that when the arm 3 is moved either in thedirection of arrow 5 or in. the opposite direction one of the arms '2'0" will always strike against the lever M to tighten the brake.

This device is serviceable not only as a fire-escape, but also tosupport workmensuch as painters or masonswhen operating on a house wall,since the device can be raised or lowered, as desired, and a person canreadily be supported on the device without said device descending untilthe pawl S is moved out of engagement with the wheel G, and as by theentrance of a passenger into the device the brake is tightened thedevice is prevented from descending too rapidly, thus preventing injuryand fright to the passenger. The pawl S and the brake, being bothreadily put into action,offer security to the passenger, since thedevice can be readily stopped or checked by the pawl or brake be ingbrought into action, and when the lever E lifts the pawl S out of actionthe brake is not at once loosened, so that the device descends graduallyand frightening of timid passengers is avoided.

In Fig. 8 the stud h is shown secured to the rod Q; but said stud h, asseen in Fig. 9, may be placed on a sleeve or slide d, placed 011 the rodQ, between the springs R U. The two springs R U abut against the slide(1, and as the slide moves one way or the other the tension of thespring Ris either increased or diminished.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, in a fire escape, of a frame A, an axle O, journaledtherein, acable D, abrake-wheel \V, fixed to the axle, a brakebandencircling said brake-wheel, a seat or support B, oscillating on theframe and connected to said brake-band, and a lever E, for regulatingthe action of the seat upon the brake, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a frame A, an axle C, journaledtherein, a cable D, a ratchet-wheel G and a brake-wheel 7, both fixed tothe axle, a brake-band V, encircling said brake-wheel, a seat or supportB, oscillating on the frame and connected to said brake-band, a pawl S,for engaging said ratchet-whe.el, and a lever E, for regulating theaction of the seat upon the brake, said lever having an arm orconnection R extending to the pawl, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a frame A, an axle (J,journaled therein, acable D, a brake-lever cl 6 for said cable, a seator support B, oscillating on the frame and connected to saidbrake-lever, and a lever E, for regulating the action of the seat uponthe brake-lever, said brake-lever having a common fulcrum with the leverE, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a I frame A, an axle journaledtherein, a cable D, a brake for said cable, and a seat or support B,oscillating on the frame and having a spring-connection with said brake,substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a frame A, an axle journaledtherein, a cable D, a brake for said cable, a seat or support B,oscillating on the frame, a spring R,'actin g upon the brake, and aspring U, connected to the seat B for increasing the action of thespring R upon the brake, substantially as described.

6. A fire-escape combining in its structure a frame A, a support or seatB, a brake mechanism connected with and operated by the support or seat,an axle O, journaled in the frame, a cable D, a ratchet-wheel G, securedto the axle, a detaining detent S for the ratchet-wheel, a lever E, forreleasing the detent and regulating the action of the support or seat onthe brake mechanism, and actuating crank or cranks n for said axle,substantially as described.

7. The combination, in a lire-escape, of a frame A, an axle journaledtherein, a cable D, a brake mechanism for said cable, and a primary seator supportB and secondary supportt u, said secondary support beingconnected to the brake, substantially as described.

8. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a frame A, an axle journaledtherein, a cable D, a brake for said cable, a seat or support B,

connected to said brake, and a lever r s, for increasing the action ofthe brake, substantially as described.

9. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a frame A, an axle journaledtherein, a cable D, a brakewheel WV and brake-band V for said axle, abrake-lever M, having a branch or finger b, and a lever E, for engagingsaid branch I) to loosen said brake-band, substantially as described.

10. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a frame A, an axle journaledtherein, a cable D, a brake-wheel W and brake-band V for said axle, abrake-lever M, having a fork a b, and a lever E, for alternatelyengaging the branch Ct or b. of said fork for tightening or looseningthe brake, substantially as described.

11. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a frame A, an axle journaledtherein, a cable D, a double check for said axle, consisting of aratchet and detent or pawl and a continuously-tightened brake made toact on said axle, a support B, connected to the brake for increasing itsaction, a slide R, for releasing the detent or pawl, and a lever E, foroperating the slide and loosening the brake, substantially as described.

12. The combination of the frame A, the axle journaled therein, a cableD, a brake for said axle, a support B, made to act on the brake, a leverfor increasing the action of the brake, and two arms 7" r, fortransmitting motion from the lever to the brake when said lever is swungin one direction or the other, substantially as described.

13. The combination, in a fire-escape, of a frame A, an axle O,journaled therein, a cable D, a brake-wheel W, fixed to the axle, abrake-band encircling said brake-wheel, a seat or support B, oscillatingon the frame and connected by a spring to said brake-band, and a leverE, for regulating the action of the seat and spring upon the brake,substantially as described.

14. The combination of a frame A and axle O, journaled therein, a cableD, a brake-Wheel WV, fixed to the axle, a continuous spring-tightenedbrake-band for said brakewheel, a ratchet-wheel G and pawl S for saidaxle, a rest or support B, oscillating on the frame and connected tosaid brake-band, and an actuating-lever E, communicating with the springand brake, as also with the pawl and rest, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PHILIPP GOLDMANN.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM C. HAUFF, 'E. F. KASTENHUBER.

